The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ (MCN’s) recent request for board nominations resulted in a talented and diverse pool of applicants. Six candidates from MCN member nonprofits have been nominated, and four will be elected to three-year terms on the 23-person MCN board beginning in January 2024 (with voting opening to MCN member organizations on Monday, October 16):
- Karina Forrest Perkins, president and executive director, Vail Place
- Carla Manzoni, director of leadership development, LatinoLEAD
- Theresa McClenty, executive director, MN350
- Sara Niemi, executive director, Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault
- Sara Salas Ramirez, executive director, Parenting Resource Center
- Aly Xiong, senior HR director, Project for Pride in Living
More information will be available on the MCN Board website in the coming weeks (and prior to the opening of voting), as well as information on the returning elected member representatives and at-large members serving staggered three-year terms. Please note that this is an election to fill new terms for four positions on MCN’s broadly representative board, including board members from organizations located in Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Fairmont, Little Falls, Moorhead, and Willmar, in addition to Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Petitioning Process
MCN’s bylaws provide that any representative of a member organization may add their name to the ballot by submitting a petition containing the signatures of representatives from five percent of MCN’s 2,200 voting member organizations. The petitioning process is open through 5 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023. Candidates whose petitions meet the requirements will be added to the ballot.
Voting for Candidates from October 16-29
In-person voting will open via email Monday, October 16, member you will receive an email with instructions on how to cast a ballot online. This is a competitive election. There are six candidates for four openings and each organization is assigned one ballot. Voting will close at the end of the day on Sunday, October 29. The six candidates receiving the most votes will be elected and announced to all MCN members after the election.
For more information about the petitioning process or the board of directors election, please contact Mark Buenaflor at mbuenaflor@minnesotanonprofits.org or call 651-757-3066.